Vehicle charging connector

Abstract: A structure of a vehicle charging connector includes a depressed connector receptacle (11) formed in a body of a vehicle, a receptacle lid (25) mounted on the receptacle (11) to close and open an opening of the receptacle (11), a secondary connector (12) mounted on a rear wall of the receptacle (11) and having an opening open to the opening of the receptacle (11), the secondary connector (12) including a connector lid (18) closing and opening the opening thereof, and a butting member (22) mounted between an inner face of the receptacle lid (25) and an outer face of the connector lid (18), the butting member (22) butting against at least one of the receptacle lid (25) and the connector lid (18) when the receptacle lid (25) is closed. When the receptacle lid (25) is closed in the condition that the connector lid (18) is incompletely closed, the inside face of the receptacle lid (25) abuts against the butting member (22) mounted on the connector lid (18). When the receptacle lid (25) is closed in this state, the connector lid (18) is pushed via the pushing member (22) to close the connector housing (12).

Description: This invention relates to a structure of a vehicle charging connector applied to vehicles such as electric vehicles, a vehicle charging connector and a receptacle enclosing the vehicle charging connector. FIG. 6 shows a conventional structure of a vehicle charging connector. A connector receptacle 1 having an opening is provided in one side of a body of a vehicle to be depressed inward of the body. A cylindrical connector housing 2 enclosing terminals (not shown) therein is mounted on a rear wall of the receptacle 1 so that an opening thereof is directed toward the opening of the receptacle 1. A connecting piece 3 protrudes from the side face of the connector housing 2 obliquely upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 6. A waterproof connector lid 4 closing the opening of the connector housing 2 is rotatably mounted on the connecting piece 3. The connector lid 4 has a waterproofing packing on its inside outer periphery. A coil spring (not shown) is interposed between the connector lid 4 and the connecting piece 3 to urge the connector lid 4 in the direction in which the connector lid 4 is closed. The receptacle 1 has a receptacle lid 5 closing the opening thereof. A locking member 6 is provided between the receptacle lid 5 and the vehicle body for holding the receptacle lid 5 in its closed state. In charging a power battery of the vehicle, the locking member 6 is released and then, the receptacle lid 5 is opened. The connector lid 4 is opened against the urging force of the coil spring. Thereafter, a charger side connector is fitted into a vehicle side connector and then, charging is initiated. Upon completion of charging, the charger side connector is disengaged from the vehicle side connector and then, the connector lid 4 is closed. The connector lid 4 is urged by the coil spring and closes the opening of the connector housing 2. The connector lid 4 is held in its closed state. The receptacle lid 5 is closed and engaged with the locking member 6 such that it is held in its closed state. In the above-described structure, the sealing performance of the connector lid 4 is improved as the urging force of the coil spring becomes large. However. a large force is required of an operator to open and close the connector lid 4. Accordingly, operation of the connector lid 4 becomes troublesome and there is a possibility that the operator may have his or her finger caught between the connector housing 2 and the connector lid 4. In view of this drawback, the coil spring is conventionally set to a relatively small urging force. However, since the urging force of the coil spring is small, the sealing performance of the waterproofing packing of the connector lid 4 is reduced. Consequently, water invades the interior of the connector housing 2 through a gap between the packing and the connector housing 2. Furthermore, US-A-4,312,649 discloses a fuel tank with a filler cap which has a central stem extending perpendicularly from the filler cap. The stem receives an outer cap disc and an inner cap disc, wherein a spring is disposed between the filler cap and the inner cap disc to force the inner cap disc away from the filler cap to engage a seal between a seat and the inner cap disc when the filler cap is closed. The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle charging connector which can provide improved operability and can prevent invasion of water. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle charging connector wherein a connector lid can be reliably closed. To achieve the object, the present invention provides according to claim 1 a vehicle charging connector comprising a depressed connector receptacle formed in a body of a vehicle, a receptacle lid mounted on the receptacle to close and open an opening of the receptacle, and a connector housing mounted on a rear wall of the receptacle and having an opening open to the opening of the receptacle, the connector housing including a connector lid closing and opening the opening thereof, characterized by a butting member provided between an inner face of the hingedly mounted receptacle lid and an outer face of the hingedly mounted connector lid, the butting member butting against one of the receptacle lid and the connector lid when the receptacle lid is closed for pushing said connector lid to completely close said opening of said connector housing and to hold said connector lid in its closed position by said butting member while holding said receptacle lid in its closed position. The butting member may be mounted on the outer face of the connector lid, on the inner face of the receptacle lid or on the receptacle of the vehicle body. According to the above-described construction, the butting member pushes the connector lid in the direction in which it is closed, when the receptacle lid is closed even in the condition that the connector lid closing the opening of the secondary connector is incompletely closed. Consequently, the opening of the connector housing is completely closed by the connector lid. Thus, the butting member pushes the connector lid upon closure of the receptacle lid, so that the connector lid completely closes the opening of the connector housing. Accordingly, the water can be prevented from invading the connector housing when the receptacle lid is closed even in the condition that the connector lid incompletely closes the opening of the connector housing. In particular, when the butting member is mounted on the connector receptacle, it can be easily added to conventional connector receptacles. In an advantageous manner, the butting member includes an elastic expanding and contracting expanding and contracting in face of a counterpart member against which the butting member butts. The elastic expanding and contracting contracts between the receptacle lid and the connector lid when the receptacle lid is closed. The elasticity acts so that both lids are departed from each other. This elastic force can be adjusted by varying the distance of the elastic expanding and contracting. consequently. the connector lid can be pressed against the opening edge by a predetermined force providing desired sealability. Thus, the sealability of the connector lid can be improved and the connector lid can be reliably closed. Preferably the butting member includes an elastic expanding and contracting member in face of a counter part member against which the butting member butts. This member contracts between the receptacle lid and the connector lid when the receptacle lid is closed. The elasticity acts so that both lids are departed from each other. Then, the connector lid is pressed against the opening edge of the connector housing. Consequently, the opening of the connector housing can be completely closed. The invention will be described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a structure of a vehicle charging connector in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a longitudinally sectional view of the structure when a connector lid is incompletely closed; FIG. 3 is a longitudinally sectional view of the structure when a receptacle lid is closed; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the structure of the vehicle charging connector in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of further another embodiment of the structure of the vehicle in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a longitudinally sectional view of a conventional structure of the vehicle charging connector. A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. A connector receptacle 11 is formed in an outer side face of a vehicle body to be depressed inwardly of the body. A cylindrical connector housing 12 is mounted on a rear wall of the receptacle 11. The connector housing 12 has an opening directed to an opening of the receptacle 11. The connector housing 12 includes a square flange 13 formed on the inner or rear outer periphery thereof. The flange 13 is fixed on the rear wall of the receptacle 11 by bolts so that the connector housing 12 is mounted on the receptacle rear wall. A plurality of terminals (not shown) are enclosed in the connector housing 12. The terminals are connected to a power source section (not shown) mounted on the vehicle body. A connecting member 15 is mounted on the outer periphery of the connector housing 12. The connecting member 15 has a space 16 between it and the outer periphery of the connector housing 12. A cylindrical primary connector housing (not shown) is inserted into the space 16. The connecting member 15 protrudes toward the opening of the connector housing 12 and has a generally inverted L-shaped section. The connecting member 15 has a pair of opposite connecting pieces 15a on its distal end. Each connecting piece 15a protrudes slightly obliquely toward the outer periphery of the connector housing 12 relative to the opening of the connector housing 12. A circular connector lid 18 closing the opening of the connector housing 12 has an integral mounting portion 18b projecting from an outer peripheral edge thereof. The connector lid 18 is rotatably mounted on a hinge pin 19 further mounted on the connecting pieces 15a. The connector lid 18 has a peripheral wall 18a circularly projecting toward the connector housing 12. An elastic sealing member 20 is provided on the inside face of the peripheral wall 18a, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The sealing member 20 abuts against the peripheral edge of the opening of the connector housing 12 when the connector lid 18 is closed. A coil spring (not shown) is provided between the connector lid 18 and the connecting piece 15a for slightly urging the connector lid 18 in the direction in which it is closed. A convex portion 21 is provided on the outer periphery of the connector housing 12 near its opening. The convex portion 21 is engageable with an engaging member (not shown) formed on a primary connector. A butting member 22 is mounted on an outer face of the connector lid 18. The butting member 22 projects perpendicularly to the connector lid 18. The butting member 22 comprises a pushing coil spring 23 and a pressing member 24 having a diameter slightly larger than the coil spring 23. One of two ends of the coil spring 23 is fixed to the connector lid 18. The coil spring 23 is slightly expansible and contractible longitudinally. The pressing member 24 is fixed to the other end of the coil spring 23. The length of the butting member 22 is so set that the distal end thereof protrudes from the opening of the receptacle 11 slightly outside the vehicle body when the opening of the connector housing 12 is closed by the connector lid 18. In the embodiment, the pushing spring 23 composes an elastic expanding and contracting member. A flat receptacle lid 25 closing the opening of the receptacle 11 is rotatably mounted on the receptacle 11. A pair of locking members 26 are mounted on the receptacle lid 25 and the vehicle body, respectively. The receptacle lid 25 is held in its closed state by the locking members 26 engaged with each other. The operation of the structure will be described. In charging a power battery of the vehicle, the locking members 26 are disengaged from each other and the receptacle lid 25 is opened. The connector lid 18 is then opened against the urging force of the coil spring. The primary connector is fitted into the connector housing 12 in the condition that the connector lid 18 is open. Then, the engaging member of the primary connector is engaged with the convex member of the connector housing 12 so that the terminals in the connector housing and those of the primary connector are intermated. Since the urging force of the coil spring is not so large, the connector lid 18 can be easily opened and there is no possibility that the operator has his or her finger caught between the connector lid 18 and the connector housing 12. Upon completion of charging, the primary connector is unmated from the secondary connector, whereupon the coil spring forces the connector lid 18 to rotatably move such that the opening of the connector housing 18 is closed by the connector lid 18. In this regard, the case is as follows where the opening of the connector housing 18 is not completely closed by the connector lid 18. That is, the receptacle lid 25 abuts at its inner face against the pressing member 24 when rotatably moved to be closed in the condition that the connector lid 18 is not completely closed. When the receptacle lid 25 is closed in this state, the connector lid 18 is pushed by the pushing member 24, thereby being rotatably moved in the direction in which it closes the opening of the connector housing 12. The sealing member 20 is pressed against the open edge of the connector housing 12, deformed and abutting against the open edge, whereby the opening of the connector housing 12 is completely closed by the connector lid 18. Since a restoring force of the contracted coil spring 23 presses the sealing member 20, it can be prevented from being excessively squeezed. Consequently, the sealability can be improved. Subsequently, when the receptacle lid 25 is held in its closed state by the locking members 26, the connector lid 18 is held in its closed state. Accordingly, since the connector lid 18 is not opened as long as the receptacle lid 25 is closed, invasion of the water into the connector housing 12 can be prevented. Although the butting member 22 is mounted on the outer face of the connector lid 18 in the foregoing embodiment, one end of the pushing coil spring 23 may be fixed to the inside face of the receptacle lid 25 and the other end thereof may be fixed to the pushing member 24, as shown as another embodiment of the invention in FIG. 4. Furthermore, a rotatable support member 27 mounted on the inside of the receptacle 11 and an elastic pushing member 28 may be mounted on the distal end of the support member 27, as shown as further another embodiment of the invention in FIG. 5. The support member 27 causes the pushing member 28 to be caught between the receptacle lid 25 and the connector lid 18 when the receptacle lid 25 is closed. In this case, as the pushing member 28 is slightly squeezed, the connector lid 18 is pressed against the open edge of the connector housing 12 by the receptacle lid 25. As obvious from the foregoing, the elastic expanding and contracting member can be comprised of a coil spring, rubber or leaf spring. When the leaf spring is employed, particularly, a curved end thereof is held on the connector lid or the receptacle lid and its other end protrudes toward either counterpart member, the connector lid or the receptacle lid. The butting member may be formed by bending the connector lid in the direction of the receptacle lid or by bending the receptacle lid in the direction of the connector lid.

Claims: A vehicle charging connector comprising a depressed connector receptacle (11) formed in a body of a vehicle, a receptacle lid (25) mounted on the receptacle (11) to close and open an opening of the receptacle (11), and a connector housing (12) mounted on a rear wall of the receptacle (11) and having an opening open to the opening of the receptacle (11), the connector housing (12) including a connector lid (18) closing and opening the opening thereof, characterized by a butting member (22) provided between an inner face of the hingedly mounted receptacle lid (25) and an outer face of the hingedly mounted connector lid (18), the butting member (22) butting against one of the receptacle lid (25) and the connector lid (18) when the receptacle lid (25) is closed for pushing said connector lid (18) to completely close said opening of said connector housing (12) and to hold said connector lid (18) in its closed position by said butting member (22) while holding said receptacle lid (25) in its closed position. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said butting member (22) is mounted on the outer face of the connector lid (18). The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said butting member (22) is mounted on the inner face of the receptacle lid (25). The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said butting member (22) is mounted on the receptacle (25) of the vehicle body. The connector according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said butting member (22) includes an elastic expanding and contracting member (23) in face of a counterpart member against which the butting member butts.

Inventors: WAKATA SHIGEKAZU, WAKATA, SHIGEKAZU, C/O SUMITOMO WIRING SYST., LTD.
Applicants: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13